WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Old Ballgame: Mickey Mantle

Episode Date: February 14, 2025

A look at the most powerful switch-hitter in history.

Welcome to the old ball game where we talk about the past of America's favorite pastime. I'm Tate Christensen. Today we talk about the greatest switch hitter in baseball history, Mickey Mantle. Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavana, Oklahoma. His father, a former semi-pro player, knew before Mickey was even born that his oldest son would be a baseball player. In high school, Mantel was a multifaceted athlete who played basketball and football in addition to baseball. During his sophomore year of school, he suffered a leg injury during football practice that caused him to develop osteomyelitis, or a bone infection that nearly resulted in leg amputation. The doctors were able to prevent amputation and treated Mantle with penicillin.

In 1948, Mantle began his professional baseball career with Baxter Springs Wiz Kids, a semi-professional team in Kansas. During one game in 1948, Yankee Scout Tom Greenway attended a game in Baxter Springs to watch Mantle's teammate. Mantle, however, was the star of the game and hit three home runs. A year later, after Mantle had graduated high school, the scout returned to sign Mantle to a minor league contract with the Yankees. Mantle was drafted to serve in the Korean War in 1950, but was rejected for his service due to his bone condition. Instead, Mantle took an offer from the New York Yankees to participate in spring training.

His power at the plate during these spring training games impressed the Yankees and resulted in Yankees' manager Casey Stangle, giving 19-year-old Mantle a spot in the majors as the Yankees right fielder. When Joe DiMaggio, the Yankees Star Center fielder, retired from baseball after the 1951 season, Mantle took his place and thrived there until 1965. Mantle is considered to be the most powerful switch hitter in baseball history, with a total of 2,415 hits, 536 home runs, 344 doubles, and 72 triples in his 18-year career. Mantle was named an All-Star every season of his career, except for 1951 and 1966. In his career with the Yankees, Mantle won three American League MVP awards and helped to leave the Yankees to win seven World Series championships. Mantle retired from baseball in 1969 and died in 1995 at the age of 6. This has been the old ballgame on Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM.